To the Perth Heat sponsors, members, fans and everyone connected with the organisation, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support this season. Without you, there is no Heat.

2017-18 has seen a resurgence both on and off the field which resulted in us returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15.

With a 26-14 record, we earned a second-place finish in the ABL standings, and I would like to thank our players for their hard work throughout the season as we hunted a 16th Claxton Shield.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to make it back to the ABLCS, but the season will go down as a success for so many reasons.

This year we commenced a new affiliation with the Tampa Bay Rays, who sent us OF Garrett Whitley, OF Jake Fraley, INF Mike Brosseau, C Zac Law and Coach Craig Albernaz. They have all been tremendous additions to the Heat family and have all slotted in with ease.

Off the field, we secured a new naming rights sponsor for the ballpark, and are proud to be continuing our relationship with Perth Harley-Davidson over the coming years.

Thanks to generous government funding, we have been able to upgrade aspects of the ballpark, including a new state-of-the-art lighting system, new toilet blocks and the best media building in the entire league.

Our naming rights sponsor, Alcohol.Think Again continue to set great examples for West Australians. We are proud to help deliver the message of safe drinking, and view it as an integral part of living a healthy life.

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries play a large role in the providing West Australians with the best sporting facilities possible, and we are honoured to continue our relationship with the government.

To the Coaching Staff, led by first-year Manager Andy Kyle, Craig Albernaz, Steve Fish and Luke Hughes, your hard works means we are ahead of schedule in our baseball development and we hope to see this wonderful sport grow in Western Australia.

The success of Warwick Saupold with the Detroit Tigers in the MLB must be highlighted, as well as the performances of former Heat stars Liam Hendriks, Peter Moylan, Mychal Givens and Mike Ohlman. The Perth Heat flag is flying high in the U.S.

Two of our young starlets, Jess Williams and Alex Hall signed their first professional contracts with the Milwaukee Brewers in December, while Robbie Glendinning was selected in the 21st Round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. We wish them the best of luck with their U.S. journey and look forward to seeing them climb up the ranks.

I hope you have all enjoyed your experiences at the ballpark this season, and we appreciate the love and support you have given to the players, staff and fans alike.

Over 25,000 people came to watch a Perth Heat game this season, and we can't wait to see that number grow in 2018-19.

Lachlan Dale

Alcohol.Think Again Perth Heat Chief Executive

This story was not subject to the approval of the Australian Baseball League or its clubs.